As a homeschooling parent, one of the things I most have to keep in check is my tendency to bombard my children with too many different categories of information. When you homeschool your punks, you realize early on that you are solely responsible for everything your children will learn, and besides the three R’s, you start to find all these…shall we say…subjects—Latin, Archaeology, Underwater Basketweaving, Macrame. You start to convince yourself that your kids won’t be intellectually whole if they don’t learn everything there is to learn. The danger here, of course, is that you’ll expose your children to a whole slew of topics, but never actually delve deeply into each one. They learn a little about a lot, or a little about a lot of a little but not a lot…but not a lot about anything.

Or something like that.

The good thing is, my kids are still young, and I think it’s good during the early years of their education (K through 3rd) to give them little tasters of a variety of subjects. Then, for the subject they seem particularly interested in, we can find more in-depth material at the library, in encyclopedias, or—gulp—even online, at ifitsontheinternetitmustbetrue.com. Uhh…or Wikipedia.

Here are three things that fall under that breadth-of-knowledge umbrella:

1. ENGLISH FROM THE ROOTS UP

I’ve loved and used these flashcards, which teach Greek and Latin roots to the English language, for years.

Inside the set are 100 cards, each with either a Greek or Latin root on the front. The Greek cards are green; the Latin cards, red.

The flip side of each card shows the meaning of the root and a nice list of English words that draw from the root word. This card is for the Greek root “Photos”, which means “Light.” The English words photograph, telephoto, photometer, photosynthesis come from the Greek root “Photos”.

And throughout the stack of cards, they group Greek and Latin roots together if the roots mean the same. Here’s “hydros” in Greek.

Here’s “aqua” in Latin.

Here’s the definition of Hydros, and the list of English words it spawned.

And here’s the back of the Aqua card.

I could seriously read these all day. They’re addictive.

When the kids are younger, I focus mostly on familiarizing them with the root and the meaning only. But even as young as five, they’re totally capable of memorizing them.

Then, as they get older, we start diving into the English words that came from these roots. Sometimes we have “Root Bees” where I flip through the cards, call out the root, and have the kids shout out the meaning. Or I reverse it, shouting out the meaning and asking them to shout out the roots.

We do a lot of shouting around here.

English From the Roots Up flashcards can be found here on Amazon, or scads of other online retailers. Note: There is an accompanying book (sold separately) but in my opinion it’s totally unnecessary. The cards are really all you need.

2. SIGN LANGUAGE FLASH CARDS

I found these flash cards over a year ago, and I instantly snatched them up.

They’re American Sign Language cards, and teach some of the basics of sign language, which, by the way, is the FOURTH most commonly spoken language in the United States. Did you know that?

I’ve always been interested in learning sign language, and I thought these would be a great way to introduce the concept to my punks.

There’s one card for each letter in the alphabet:

Here’s A.

Here’s the flip side of the A card.

B.

C.

D.

And so on.

There are also a few cards that show some basic words with their corresponding sign:

Here’s the kicker: these flash cards were $2.99 at Staples. If I’d scoured the internet to try to find an exhaustive volume on American Sign Language—particularly one appropriate for younger humans—I would have been hard pressed to find something for less than $20. This way, though the cards don’t move too far beyond the basics, they’re a great starting point and can lay a pretty good foundation for learning more later.

I just have to remember to learn more later. Sometimes I scratch the surface of a topic, the kids show interest, then we get busy doing other things and forget to go back and learn more.

I need Post-its on my forehead.

These Sign Language Flash Cards are manufactured by Trend Enterprises, who makes a huge line of awesome flash cards covering any number of topics: addition, subtraction, opposites, presidents, rhyming, transportation, money, telling time, etc.

They can be ordered directly from the website, or can be found at Staples or other retailers.

I also picked up a Presidents set back in December of 2008 and was impressed that Barack Obama had already made it into the deck. I just love retailers that ensure their inventory is up-to-date. I would’ve been depressed if I’d opened up the box and found Jimmy Carter was at the top of the stack.

No offense to Jimmy, of course.

3. DORLING KINDERSLEY EYEWITNESS BOOKS

These books do nothing to help my learn-a-little-about-a-lot approach to homeschooling.

They enable me.

Consider yourself warned.

For years I’ve been collecting these single-subject, beautifully illustrated reference books published by DK ( Dorling-Kindersley.)

For kids and adults of all ages, Eyewitness Books cover every subject from Fossils to Aztec Culture, from Ocean Life to Explorers.

Every Eyewitness Book is a feast for the senses; they’re packed from cover to cover with photographs, illustrations, and instructive graphics.

This is the trademark of any Dorling-Kindersley book—they’re unfailingly visual.

And if you’ve ever checked out my cooking section, you probably know “visual” appeals to me.

Inside the cover of each book is a peek at the other titles available. When I said these books “cover every subject”, I meant it.

You’ll LISTEN to me from now on…won’tcha?

WON’TCHA?

Note to students: “Won’tcha” is not a word.

Although the reading level inside is too advanced for small kids…

There’s plenty for them to see. Even as toddlers, my punks loved the pictures.

And while the scope of each book isn’t exhaustive enough to educate someone majoring in the particular subject in college…

There’s more than enough to allow your kids (homeschooled or not) to develop a wonderful breadth of knowledge.

I love hearing about your homeschooling techniques! My daughter wants me to homeschool her SO BAD she can taste it!! But, being a single mom, I have to work and there will be no one for her to stay with…

I tell her that when I remarry, (to a RICH man…) I’ll be able to do it… LOL…

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Monie On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:07 am

Love the flashcards.
Love DK books.
I want to go back to school now.
NOT really…well, maybe.

carole hanbury On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:09 am

Love the English From the Roots Up cards! It makes me want to home school again…but, of course, I had a hard time limiting myself to cramming it all in! I would be panicky by the end of the day because of all the ideas, trips, books to read, art to see…that we hadn’t! I’m taking a breather! But, still love the reminders I’m not the only mama who struggles with that!

Angela Reese On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:13 am

About the sign language-I totally think you should keep up with it! I have a friend who teaches sign language (she’s a speech therapist too) and she and her daughter are constantly chattering away in places where chatting is not really appropriate. Or, they can communicate across long distances It’s always so funny to see them doing this. I could see how this would be helpful on the ranch too.

Cori Heffernan On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:16 am

Morgan On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:17 am

I love seeing what materials other homeschooling families use and what they love. I have been teaching my 10yo daughter Greek and Latin word roots using a book but I think those flashcards would be an awesome supplement! Also I love DK books, and those sign language flashcards look great. I’m definitely going to look for them! Thank you for the ideas!

rayleighsmom On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:20 am

The Eyewitness Books are definitely something my daughter will be using. I love them! I believe it’s best to expose children to a lot of different topics during the first few years and allow them to discover their interests. My “plan” is to do a different extracurricular subject every 9 weeks. Ah, I have so many plans! I know they’ll all go out the door when we start homeschooling but that’s ok! I’ll learn! Haha.

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Emily On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:21 am

That’s how I like to teach language, in groups of words around a root. I go a step further (farther?) by including words from other languages that belong in the same group. I think it’s a really easy way to learn other languages. It utilizes understanding instead of memorization. This method helps kids (and adults) figure out the meanings of words in English and other languages that they haven’t seen before (think SATs).

anne cummings On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:22 am

Great stuff! I am not currently homeschooling, but there is a chance we may be moving out into the boonies and I may start! My oldest would love those books. She is all about learning everything, even though she thinks she already knows it all.
And she’s 7.

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heymoonkid On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:26 am

My kids and I love the Eyewitness Books! Incredible little suckers! And I gotta tell ya, on the sign language flash cards. It reminded me of my best friend in 7th grade. We were ALWAYS in trouble for talking and whispering during class, so we checked out the sign language books from the library, taught ourselves how to sign so we could ‘talk’….. and THEN got in trouble for signing during class!!! LOL Geesh. We thought we were pretty creative, but apparently became a big distraction to the rest of the class and a frustration to the teacher who couldn’t understand a word we said….signed. =)

KellieD On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:27 am

I need to get those flashcards! Even though mine are in public school I do a lot with them outside of school because as their mom it is my job to make sure they learn as much as they can. Thanks for the great ideas!

After I saw the English from the roots up on your site awhile back I ordered them on a whim. You are right they are addictive! We have just been playing with them at the dinne table guessing words and such. The the iother day we were studying for 6th grade science and he had a light bulb moment with HYDRO-electricity! Love those light bulb moment!!! WE also LOVE the DK books and I agree that even as preschoolers they love looking at them!

I love the Eyewitness books, too! I used them as a classroom teacher and in homeschooling my own children.

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KellieD On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:30 am

When we were small, one of the local grocery stores was selling placemats with works of the great Masters in the art world on them. Because of that early exposure, I know a Chagall from a Rrenoir, Winslow Homer from Mmatisse. I fully support diversifying what and how children are taught. Good for you, Ree!

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Heidi On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:31 am

I love the Eyewitness books too! They have so much information in them and are great for any age kid.

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Aimee On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:31 am

I plan to homeschool my kiddos (oldest is just now 2 1/2), and you make me excited about all the possibilities when I go all “What in the world am I thinking/going to do/etc.” on myself. I plan to introduce Spanish to them at an early age, but I love the idea of sign language, too.

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Emily On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:31 am

“Won’tcha” may not be a word, but you spell it beautifully. I’m interviewing for an adjunct teaching job – to teach English to community college students – tonight. Wish me luck!

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KellieD On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:32 am

Man, my spelling isn’t too good right now. See what happens when a nearsighted person isn’t wearing contacts while typing on the computer?

I think this is what has me sold on homeschool – you can spend time developing skills and interests where at school there really isn’t time or resources to tailor messages to each individual student. Jeez, I wish homeschooling was cool when I was a kid…I would totally be fluent in Chinese right now.

Gail On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:37 am

Thanks Ree – The “resources” posts are always some of my favorites in the homeschooling section. Don’t think for a second I don’t have an extensive Excel spreadsheet building for the coming years…

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Kim On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:38 am

I work in a bookstore, and you just cannot beat DK Eyewitness books. They’re amazing! Kids love them, grown-ups are fascinated, too. I often recommend them to adults who want to “learn a little about a lot,” as you put it.

Those sign language flash cards are great. My now 9 year old started learning sign language when she was 2 in daycare and they even did some up through first grade. My 3 year old twins would love them. They think flash cards are the bomb.

Malissa Coy On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:46 am

Thank you for your suggestions…I have just started homeschooling my 4 year old (we are moving very slowly…just a little here and there) and am always looking for ideas! We love the Eyewitness Books already…she has one on space and one on volcanoes (two of her favorite things) and she loves looking at the pictures and having us read to her from them!
Thanks again!

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Brandi On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:47 am

Isn’t homeschooling a BLAST.

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orchid On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:48 am

Nothing makes me wish I could Homeschool more than the fantastic resources you show us.

My poor punk is going to get school at school and at home at this rate!

My mom bought English from the Roots Up for my sister and I to use when we homeschooled. It was very helpful and it made learning fun!

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pati mk On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:48 am

Those flashcards are great.

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Joy Dexter On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:49 am

Love the sign flash cards. Very cool!

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mnsmalltowngal On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:49 am

I love DK books almost as much as I love Usborne books! And those sign language flash cards are great! My son learned the sign language alphabet this year in first grade- those cards would be a great way for him to expand on his new knowledge!
Thanks for more great resources, Ree!

I love the DK books, but my young kids have always found them to be too overwhelming. When they are younger, they prefer larger single illustrations with less print. By the time they enjoy reading tiny print, they want more information than the Eyewitness books provide.

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shannon On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:56 am

Ok,…I am ashamed. I have been married for 12 &1/2 years. My father-in-law is deaf, and my kids and I still haven’t learned sign language fluently. We know the abc’s, and a few words, but still…..The problem is, if you don’t use it regularily, you forget it. Again, I have guilt.

Ha! We do just the same thing in our school! My poor kids teacher, me, loves to jump from subject to subject. We do love the DK books. I agree that they are great for all ages since the pictures are so engaging. We pick ours up here there and everywhere, lots of used ones out there!

Great stuff. I am homeschooling this year for the first time (and my oldest is a 7th grader!), and I too suffer from wanting to teach a little about a lot! It’s tough figuring out what’s most important.

64

Jennifer On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:00 am

I’m going to go to Staples…tonight. Thanks so much for sharing!

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LeeNJ On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:00 am

Where’s our proofreader when we need one?!?
“Dorling-Kindersley Eyewitness Books (Note that there is a “new crop” of Eyewitness books available, so the covers my look a little different from mind.)” :^)

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Bonnie B. On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:01 am

But what’s the root word of hyperbole? And is it Greek or Latin???? (just had to give you a hard time, PW)

I had no idea that Sign Language was the fourth most frequently used language! I have always had an interest in it; I still remember my ABC’s in sign language that I learned at summer camp when I was a kid! Those cards look so neat. I’m gonna get me some

Love that you’re sharing what works for you in your homeschooling adventure. While I don’t homeschool, I am in total awe of those who do! I am not nearly organized enough to tackle it, and am fortunate that the school my kids attend is a wonderful, nurturing, parent-involved place. Otherwise, I may have to think about homeschooling and that would just be unfortunate for my kids to have me as their teacher!

A friend of mine, way back in 4th grade, taught some of us the alphabet in sign language. I still remember it to this day. She has a sister that is deaf, so she was a wealth of knowledge! I love the sign language flashcards…I wish schools would offer sign language classes, right along with Spanish and French. I would have found that a lot more interesting and undoubtedly would have gotten a lot more out of it!

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Linda On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:05 am

I love the sign language cards! I love any kind of flashcards! They are my favorite

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Linda On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:06 am

Holy hell! I’m #1. I’m #1! I.AM.NUMBER.ONE!!!!!

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Tammra On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:07 am

I love your favorite things too! Thank you for sharing.

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Karen Q On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:08 am

Love the sign language cards. My kids are in their late twenties and when they were young they learned sign language from Sesame Street. My daughter had a Sesame Street Sign Language book which started her on the road to being a Sign Language Interpreter. She never learned any Sign Language in the public schools but had such an interest that we found some community courses for her to take. So, Sesame Street can be a good learning resource too.

I just wanted to share that I found these “fruit of the spirit” stickers at Hobby Lobby yesterday that I think have a lot of potential in teaching my kiddos these attributes. They are shaped like fruit and there is one for Patience, Kindness, Love, Self Control, and Gentleness. Just thought I’d share! My kiddos are wearing Kindness Apples today to remind them to show kindness. =)

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Jenn O'B On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:09 am

Just curious… What is “underwater basketweaving”? Are you underwater, or is the basket underwater….? And, why? I’m going to have to Google this one…

I am so excited about these ASL flashcards! It seems like they would really help you learn to read signs, which has been the hardest part in my experience. Signs are pretty easy and fun to make, but much more difficult to understand what someone else is signing. Check out the sign for bacon — by far one of my favorites.http://www.signingsavvy.com/sign/BACON

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Melissa Beidler On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:13 am

We found DVDs at the library called Signing Time with Alex and Leah and they are FABULOUS. Easy to listen too, lots of variety of song/motion/words and good visuals. Leah’s mother was a folk singer/songwriter and when they discovered that Leah, at 1, was profoundly deaf, they learned sign language. Leah’s cousin Alex was born about then and they taught him sign language too so that he could communicate with his cousin. The moms got together and started doing these videos with music and motion to teach sign.

Our library has a bunch of them but I believe you can buy them online too.

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Lisa Cain On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:15 am

Staci Kristine On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:16 am

Even though I don’t homeschool (no kiddos yet), I love books, and I’m already excited to buy lots of books to teach my kids at home (even if they go to school outside the home). I’m going to put some of these in my Amazon “save for later” cart right now!

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Ashlee Gudmundson On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:18 am

My life is very different than what I thought it would be. Sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes it’s terrible, but we take what we get.

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AliciaC On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:18 am

We’ve gotten that Universe book at the library! Very cool!

Woo hoo!

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Carlene On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:19 am

About learning sign language…as a teacher at a Deaf school that uses ASL exclusively, one of our pet peeves is people that “learned” to sign through 2 dimensional photos or diagrams. You wouldn’t try to teah your kids Chinese by reading a book and guessing at teh pronunciation would you?

Go to ASLpro.com they have a video dictionary with interpreters signing almost every word out there, that way you KNOW it’s correct.

And I don’t know if you include culture in your foreign language classes (or if your kids are interested), but a great resource for learning about Deaf culure is “For Hearing People Only”. It’s a question-and-answer book about Deaf culture and very basic, yet informative.

Sorry! Didn’t mean to sound preachy!

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Jen Spilker On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:21 am

Hmmm, I think I might need to check out some of those books. My boys would love ‘em!

Carlene… I have that book! In college I initially was studying to be a sign language interpreter and along with ASL classes (taught by deaf teachers) I had Deaf culture classes. That is an excellent book!!

We LOVE the DK books too! It never ceases to amaze me how much information they can cram onto those pages. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to find some Latin flash cards I didn’t know I NEEDED until now. Thanks Ree!

This is why my DIL teaches my little hillbilly grandkiddos Latin. Even this Ozarks farm chicks little four year old princess has picked up on phrases and meanings. Woohoo! As a retired educator, I sure have to had it to ya teachin’ mamas!!!!

Ree, it’s been a pleasure reading your blog! I have two little ones, my oldest is seven and in the 1st grade at a wonderful local elementary school. The learning does not stop there and my little guy challenges me daily with his constant thought provoking questions! I LOVE it!!! We believe that education begins and ends in the home (we love homeschooling families!) and strive daily to teach above and beyond.
Too often I think that we put our children in a box and do not teach them to their greatest ability but to the standards set according to their age. My son is obsessed, fascinated, enthralled with early American history and can ramble away about facts and figures dating back to our Founding Fathers. It’s amazing and we recently purchased him an encyclopedia on American presidents that I find him reading when he wakes up in the morning and before his head hits the pillow at night. Most of our days are filled with “mommy, did you know….”. What a blessing!!
Next month for spring break we will be visiting DC for our family vacation to feed this wonderful passion of his-we can’t wait!
Blessings, April

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Amber On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:33 am

I’m a dork, the comments aren’t all there. Of course I couldn’t have possibly been the 1st. =)

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Kirsten On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:34 am

I am interested in what kind of curriculum you are following, or method. I’m a few years out from homeschooling, but am trying to gather as much information/success stories/recommendations as possible. I really do like the books, and they look like something that I would buy in the future.

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Kristin S. On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:34 am

I’m not a homeschooler, but I love your posts and learn a lot. I must have those sign language flash cards ASAP! The DK books I love everything DK puts out they are the best I find myself learning a lot from them.

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